Wire-stretcher.



no. 667,39l. Patented nu. 5, 190|.

F. LGmFFETH.

(Applicatinn Bled Oct. 9, 1900.)

(No lodal.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

FRANCIS E. GRIFFETH, OF BOGART, GEORGIA, ASSIGN'OR TO THE NORTH AMERICAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,391, dated February 5, 19i. Application filed October 9, 1900. Serial No. 312,538. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. GRIEFETH, a citizen of the United States, residing atBogart, in the county of Oconee and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of devices which are adapted more particularly for stretching fence wires or strands and holding the same taut While being secured to the post or for taking up the slack of the same. In addition to these purposes, as above recited, the invention is also adapted to be applied to fence-posts of varying or diderent widths in Stringing or stretching the wire or strands in position and is also eective and expeditious in operation, while it is adapted to permit of the application to the fence-post of the wire or strands to the utmost limit as relates to the height of the fence-post. It will be noted that the rackarms are preferably pivoted out of the plane of the hand-lever and next to the fence-post side of the device, 'relatively speaking, to reduce or lessen to the minimum the distance therebetween and the fence-post, and thus exert the greatest possible amount of strain or stress through said rack-arms.

It consists of the combination of parts, including their construction and arrangement, substantiallyas hereinafter more fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a side View showing the same in practical use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the device compactly folded. Fig. 4 is across-section, the line of which is taken contiguously to the laterally-extended pivot of the propping-pawl.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as they may be changed or varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention and the same yet remain intact and be protected.

In carrying out my invention I suitably provide a base-piece or foot l, preferably triangular or arched to provide for the passing of an additional piece of wire in contact with the post, the purpose of which will appear presently, and having one branch forked, as at l, to engage or secure a hold upon the fence-post as against slipping. This basepiece or foot has a notched arm or rack 2, extending relatively vertically therefrom, adapted to rest against the fence-post, as seen in Fig. l. Ahand-lever 3 is suitably pivoted to the apex or angle of said foot or base-piece and has fixed to or cast with it a short distance from its pivot a transverse or cross bar 4, and 5 is a propping-pawl, preferably having a spiked or tapered free end and pivoted upon a cylindric rod or pivot 5a, passing through and xed in lugs 5b, preferably four, cast or integral with said cross-bar. The propping-pawl 5 vis held as against lateral movement by the central two lugs 5b, and upon the pivot or rod 5a is loosely held or pivoted two rack bars or arms 6, facing normally downward, adapted, as seen, to engage the fence wire or strand. The laterally-extended pivot or rod 5@L permits of the lateral movement of said rack bars or arms as required, for instance, to adapt the device to fenceposts of different or varying widths, as will be readily appreciated. Also it will be observed that With the use of the arm or rack 2, forming an extension of the foot or base l, adapted, as shown, to rest against the fencepost, the device can be so applied to the post as to permit of the Stringing or application of the wire clear to the very upper end of the post, as will be readily seen.

In operation it will be seen that with the wire strand applied to the side of the fencepost, with its ends suitably held or secured vas commonly practiced in wire-fence buildlng, and the base-piece or foot, with its extension-rack, resting against the fence-post and the rack-arms engaging saidl wire, the hand-lever is grasped and pulled downward, suitably straining or stretching thewire, the propping-pawl engaging said extension-rack,

IOO

thus holding the Wire taut until properly stapled to the post, and further secured by applying or passing an additional wire piece through the arch of the base upon the opposite side of the post and twisting its ends to the fence-Wire by the use of an ordinary Wiretwisting tool, or in lieu of this latter the fencewire may be additionally stapled to the post, as will be appreciated.

It will be noted that the rack-arms 6 are preferably pivoted out of the plane of the hand-lever 3 and next to the fence-post side of the device, relatively speaking, to reduce or lessen to the minimum the distance therebetween and ,the fence-post and thus exert the greatest possible amount of strain or stress through said rack-arms. 

